U.S. patent application number 12/066444 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-16 for apparatus and method for interactive multimedia service in access network.
Invention is credited to Bong Tae Kim, Byung-Tak Lee, Sung-Yong Lee, Ho-Young Song.
Application Number | 20080256581 12/066444 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38357073 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080256581 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lee; Byung-Tak ; et
al. |
October 16, 2008 |
Apparatus and Method for Interactive Multimedia Service in Access
Network
Abstract
A system and method for providing an interactive multimedia
service to a user in an access network are provided. The system
includes a multimedia service providing server and a user terminal.
The multimedia service providing server creates multimedia
information requested by a user terminal, processes the created
multimedia information, and manages a corresponding communication
channel to allow a predetermined user terminal to receive the
processed multimedia information. The user terminal transmits
inputted user multimedia information to the multimedia service
providing server through the access network and receives the
multimedia information transmitted from the multimedia service
providing server through the access network.
Inventors: |
Lee; Byung-Tak; (Kyungki-do,
KR) ; Lee; Sung-Yong; (Gangwon-do, KR) ; Song;
Ho-Young; (Daejeon, KR) ; Kim; Bong Tae;
(Daejeon, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LAHIVE & COCKFIELD, LLP;FLOOR 30, SUITE 3000
ONE POST OFFICE SQUARE
BOSTON
MA
02109
US
|
Family ID: |
38357073 |
Appl. No.: |
12/066444 |
Filed: |
November 30, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
November 30, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR06/05127 |
371 Date: |
March 11, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
725/86 ; 725/100;
725/93 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/6181 20130101;
H04N 21/2743 20130101; H04N 21/6131 20130101; H04N 21/6175
20130101; H04N 21/6125 20130101; H04N 21/47202 20130101; H04N
21/41407 20130101; H04N 21/218 20130101; H04N 7/17318 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
725/86 ; 725/93;
725/100 |
International
Class: |
H04N 7/173 20060101
H04N007/173 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 8, 2005 |
KR |
10-2005-0119146 |
Jun 7, 2006 |
KR |
10-2006-0050992 |
Claims
1. A system for providing interactive multimedia services to at
least one of user terminals through an access network, the system
comprising: a multimedia service providing server for creating
multimedia information requested by a user terminal, processing the
created multimedia information, and managing a corresponding
communication channel to allow a predetermined user terminal to
receive the processed multimedia information; and a user terminal
for transmitting inputted user multimedia information to the
multimedia service providing server through the access network and
receiving the multimedia information transmitted from the
multimedia service providing server through the access network.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the access network includes at
least one of an IP communication network and an RF communication
network.
3. A system for providing interactive multimedia services to at
least one of user terminals, comprising: a service server for
transmitting interactive multimedia service availability
information to each of the user terminals based on set registration
information of the user terminals and creating multimedia
information requested by a user terminal capable of using the
interactive multimedia services; a data processing server for
receiving user multimedia information transmitted from the user
terminal to provide the received user multimedia information to the
service server and processing the created multimedia information at
the service server into data suitable for the access network; and a
channel management server for managing communication channels with
the access network to allow the predetermined user terminal to
receive the processed multimedia information from the data
processing server and to transmit the user multimedia information
transmitted from the predetermined user terminal to the data
processing server.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the data processing server
includes: a multimedia information receiving unit for receiving the
multimedia information transmitted from the user terminal through
the access network over an IP or RF channel allocated by the
channel management server; and a multimedia information
transmitting unit for transmitting the processed multimedia
information to the access network over an IP or RF channel
allocated by the channel management server in order to transmit the
multimedia information to the user terminal through downstream.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the multimedia information
receiving unit includes: a demodulator for demodulating upstream
multimedia data received from the channel management server in a
set demodulation scheme if a connection state with the access
network is an RF channel connection state; a UDP/TCP processor for
processing a UDP or TCP format of the user multimedia information
received through upstream from the channel management server if a
connection state with the access network is an IP connection state;
and a decoder and DEMUX for compressed decoding the multimedia data
received through the demodulator or the UDP/TCP processor depending
on the connection state with the access network, demultiplexing the
decoded multimedia data, and decoding the demultiplexed multimedia
data to provide audio/video/data to the service server.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the set demodulation scheme in
the demodulator is at lease one of QAM, VSB, OFDM and QPSK.
7. The system of claim 4, wherein the multimedia information
transmitting unit includes: an encoder and MUX for compressing and
encoding the multimedia data transmitted from the service server
and multiplexing the encoded multimedia data to output the
multiplexed multimedia data; a modulator for modulating the
multimedia data outputted from the encoder and MUX in a set
modulation scheme to provide the modulated multimedia data to the
channel management server if a connection state with the access
network is an RF channel connection state; and a UDP/TCP processor
for converting the multimedia data transmitted from the encoder and
MUX into a UDP or TCP format to provide the converted multimedia
data to the channel management server if a connection state to the
access network is an IP connection stat.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the set modulation scheme in the
modulator is at least one of QAM, VSB, OFDM and QPSK.
9. The system of claim 7, wherein the upstream multimedia data
includes at least one of audio information, video information,
console information including information about a keyboard, a
pointing device, a joy stick and a remote, and user channel
information including information about an IP address, a port
number and a personalized RF channel number.
10. A user terminal for communicating with a service server through
an access network to receive interactive multimedia services, the
user terminal comprising: a multimedia information receiving unit
for receiving multimedia availability information downstream
transmitted from the service server through the access network over
an allocated channel and multimedia information requested by a
user; and a multimedia information transmitting unit for
transmitting the multimedia information selected or inputted by the
user based on the received multimedia availability information to
the service server over the allocated IP or RF channel to perform
upstream transmission to the service server.
11. The user terminal of claim 10, wherein the multimedia
information receiving unit includes: a demodulator for demodulating
downstream multimedia information received from the channel
management server in a set demodulation scheme if a connection
state with the access network is an RF channel connection state; a
UDP/TCP processor for processing a UDP or TCP format of the
downstream multimedia information received through the channel
management server if a connection state with the access network is
an IP connection state; and a decoder and DEMUX for compressing and
decoding the multimedia data received through the demodulator or
the UDP/TCP processor depending on the connection state with the
access network, demultiplexing the decoded multimedia data, and
decoding the demultiplexed multimedia data to provide
audio/video/data to the service server.
12. The user terminal of one of claims 11, wherein the set
demodulation scheme in the demodulator is at lease one of QAM, VSB,
OFDM and QPSK.
13. The user terminal of claim 10, wherein the multimedia
information transmitting unit includes: an encoder and MUX for
encoding the multimedia data inputted from a user and multiplexing
the encoded multimedia data to output the multiplexed multimedia
data; a modulator for modulating the multimedia data outputted from
the encoder and MUX in a set modulation scheme and transmitting the
modulated multimedia data to a multimedia service server through an
access network if a connection state with the access network is an
RF channel connection state; and a UDP/TCP processor for converting
the multimedia data transmitted from the encoder and MUX into a UDP
or TCP format and transmitting the converted UDP/TCP multimedia
data to the multimedia service server through the access network if
a connection state to the access network is an IP connection
state.
14. The user terminal of one of claim 13, wherein the set
modulation scheme in the modulator is at least one of QAM, VSB,
OFDM and QPSK.
15. The user terminal of one of claim 13, wherein the upstream
multimedia data includes at least one of audio information, video
information, console information including information about a
keyboard, a pointing device, a joy stick and a remote, and user
channel information including information about an IP address, a
port number and a personalized RF channel number.
16. A method for providing an interactive multimedia service
between a multimedia service providing server and a user terminal
in an access network, the method comprising the steps of: a)
transmitting interactive multimedia service availability
information to each user terminal based on set registration
information of a plurality of user terminals b) determining whether
a user terminal is capable of receiving a predetermined interactive
multimedia service according to user information and network
information included in user multimedia information received from
the user terminal c) creating corresponding multimedia information
according to the received user multimedia information, and
transmitting the created multimedia information to a user terminal
if the user terminal is capable of receiving a service; and d)
transmitting input multimedia information to a service server
through an access network if user multimedia information is
inputted from a user after receiving interactive multimedia service
information from the multimedia service providing server and
selecting one of service information at the user.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step c) includes the steps
of: c-1) demodulating the upstream multimedia data received from a
user terminal according to a set demodulation scheme if a
connection state to the access network is a RF channel connection,
and processing the user multimedia information upstream received
from the user terminal based on a UDP or a TCP if the connection
state to the access network is an IP connection; and c-2)
demultiplexing the demodulated multimedia data or the UDP or TCP
processed multimedia data depending on the connection state of the
access network, and decoding the demultiplexed multimedia data.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein the set registration
information of the user terminal includes at least one of
information about an IP address of a user terminal, a port and a RF
channel number.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein the interactive multimedia
service availability information includes EPG (electronic program
guide) information.
20. A method of providing an interactive multimedia service between
a service server and a user terminal in an access network, the
method comprising the steps of: a) at the service server,
transmitting interactive multimedia service availability
information to a user terminal based on set registration
information of user terminals through an access network; b) at a
least one of user terminals that receives the interactive
multimedia service information, transmitting inputted multimedia
information to the service server through an access network if the
user terminal selects one of service information and inputs the
user multimedia information and c) at the service server,
determining whether the user terminal is capable of receiving a
predetermine multimedia service according to user information and
network information included in the received user multimedia
information, and creating corresponding multimedia information
according to the received user multimedia information and
transmitting the created multimedia information to a corresponding
user terminal through an access network.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein the step c) includes the steps
of: c-1) compressing and encoding multimedia data requested from
the user terminal and multiplexing and outputting the encoded
multimedia data; c-2) modulating the multiplexed multimedia data
according to a set modulation scheme and transmitting the modulated
multimedia data through an access network if the connection state
to the access network is a RF channel connection; and c-3)
converting the multiplexed multimedia data in a UDP format or a TCP
format and transmitting the converted multimedia data to a user
terminal through an access network if the connection state to the
access network is an IP connection.
22. The method of claim 20, wherein the set registration
information of the user terminal includes at least one of
information about an IP address of a user terminal, a port and a RF
channel number.
23. The method of claim 20, wherein the interactive multimedia
service availability information includes EPG (electronic program
guide) information.
24. A method of transmitting and receiving multimedia information
at a user terminal capable of communicating with a service server
for receiving an interactive multi media service through an access
network, the method comprising the steps of: a) receiving
multimedia service availability information that is downstream
transmitted from the service server through an access network over
an allocated channel; b) transmitting multimedia information, which
is selected among the received multimedia service availability
information by a user inputted from a user, to the service server
through the allocated channel in order to upstream transmit the
multimedia information to the server; and c) processing
corresponding multimedia information if corresponding multimedia
information requested by the user is received from the service
server.
25. The method of claim 24, wherein the step c) includes the steps
of: c-1) demodulating downstream multimedia information transmitted
from the service server through the access network if a connection
state to the access network is a RF channel connection, or
processing downstream multimedia information transmitted from the
service server through the access network based on a UDP or a TCP
if a connection state to the access network is an IP connection;
and c-2) demultiplexing the processed multimedia data according to
the connection state of the access network, decoding the
demultiplexed multimedia data, and outputting audio/video/data
through an output device.
26. The method of claim 24, wherein the step b) includes the steps
of: b-1) encoding multimedia data inputted from a user and
multiplexing the encoded multimedia data; b-2) modulating the
multiplexed multimedia data according to a set modulation scheme,
and transmitting the modulated multimedia data to a multimedia
service server through an access network if the connection state to
the access network is the RF channel connection; and b-3)
converting the multiplexed multimedia data into a UDP format or a
TCP format, and transmitting the converted multimedia data to the
service server through the access network if the connection state
to the access network is the IP connection.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a system and method for
providing an interactive multimedia service to a user in an access
network, and more particularly, to a system and method for
providing an interactive multimedia service in an access network in
order to enable a user of an access network to receive various
interactive multimedia services such as a web service, a game, a
messenger, a video telephone and a virtual environment based on a
multimedia input with a minimum configuration of a terminal.
[0002] That is, the present invention enables a user to receive
audio/video/data services using a typical broadcasting receiving
terminal by performing a upstream transmission for transmitting
multimedia information through an IP connection or a RF channel at
a user side, and receiving multimedia information of a user,
processing the multimedia information using an application program,
allocating an IP connect or a RF channel to a user corresponding to
a channel managing server, and performing a downstream-transmission
for transmitting the processed multimedia information based on a
typical broadcasting protocol such as an IP broadcasting or a RF
broadcasting at a service server of a central office such as a
broadcasting station.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] The simplest conventional method for providing a multimedia
service in an access network is a method for transmitting audio and
video information to a user through a downstream according to a
typical broadcasting protocol such as IP broadcasting and RF
broadcasting from a central station. This method has advantages of
a simple structure and a less cost. However, it is not suitable for
the interactive multimedia service due to the limitation of
receiving input from a user.
[0004] Interactivedata broadcasting is another conventional method
for providing a multimedia service. The conventional interactive
data broadcasting provides the interactive multimedia service as
follows. A central office transmits audio and video information to
a user through a downstream as a form of IP broadcasting or RF
broadcasting and sends application codes and data such as JAVA or
XML to a user. The user terminal performs a corresponding
multimedia application program to receive the interactive
multimedia service.
[0005] Since the conventional interactive data broadcasting
requires a user terminal to perform a corresponding application
program, the hardware or software of the user terminal have become
complicated, and the manufacturing cost thereof increases as the
multimedia services have become diversealthough an international
standard for middleware such as MHP, OCAP and ACAP has been in
progress.
[0006] Virtual network computing is still another conventional
method for providing a multimedia service. In the virtual network
computing, a central office includes a dedicated server to perform
an application program, and a user has a simple client with an
input console such as a keyboard and a pointing device and an
output display. The server and the client are connected through a
network, and they communicate each other using a dedicated protocol
to exchange a client's input console information and a server's
display information.
[0007] Such a virtual network computing was mainly used in
remote-control between computers and monitoring computers. The
virtual network computer controls a remote server based on a user's
console information in one-to-one manner. However, the typical IP
broadcasting or the RF broadcasting that provide a service to a
plurality of users in an access network is a one-to-multipoint
structure, and a user's multimedia information must be transfer to
a central office in order to provides an interactive multimedia
service. Therefore, the virtual network computing is not sufficient
to provide the interactive multimedia service in an access
network.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a system
and method for providing an interactive multimedia service in an
access network in order to enable a user of an access network to
receive various interactive multimedia services such as a web
service, a game, a messenger, a video telephone and a virtual
environment based on a multimedia input with a minimum
configuration of a terminal.
Technical Solution
[0009] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a system for providing interactive multimedia services to
at least one of user terminals, including: a service server for
transmitting interactive multimedia service availability
information to each of the user terminals based on set registration
information of the user terminals and creating multimedia
information requested by a user terminal capable of using the
interactive multimedia services; a data processing server for
receiving user multimedia information transmitted from the user
terminal to provide the received user multimedia information to the
service server and processing the created multimedia information at
the service server into data suitable for the access network; and a
channel management server for managing communication channels with
the access network to allow the pre-determined user terminal to
receive the processed multimedia information from the data
processing server and to transmit the user multimedia information
transmitted from the predetermined user terminal to the data
processing server.
[0010] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a user terminal for communicating with a service server
through an access network to receive interactive multimedia
services, the user terminal including: a multimedia information
receiving unit for receiving multimedia availability information
downstream transmitted from the service server through the access
network over an allocated channel and multimedia information
requested by a user; and a multimedia information transmitting unit
for transmitting the multimedia information selected or inputted by
the user based on the received multimedia availability information
to the service server over the allocated IP or RF channel to
perform upstream transmission to the service server.
[0011] According to further another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a method of providing an interactive
multimedia service between a service server and a user terminal in
an access network, the method including the steps of: a) at the
service server, transmitting interactive multimedia service
availability information to a user terminal based on set
registration information of user terminals through an access
network; b) at a least one of user terminals that receives the
interactive multimedia service information, transmitting inputted
multimedia information to the service server through an access
network if the user terminal selects one of service information and
inputs the user multimedia information; and c) at the service
server, determining whether the user terminal is capable of
receiving a predetermine multimedia service according to user
information and network information included in the received user
multimedia information, and creating corresponding multimedia
information according to the received user multimedia information
and transmitting the created multimedia information to a
corresponding user terminal through an access network.
[0012] According to the still further another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a method of transmitting and receiving
multimedia information at a user terminal capable of communicating
with a service server for receiving an interactive multimedia
service through an access network, the method including the steps
of: a) receiving multimedia service availability information that
is downstream transmitted from the service server through an access
network over an allocated channel; b) transmitting multimedia
information, which is selected among the received multimedia
service availability information by a user or inputted from a user,
to the service server through the allocated channel in order to
upstream transmit the multimedia information to the server; and c)
processing corresponding multimedia information if corresponding
multimedia information requested by the user is received from the
service server.
Advantageous Effects
[0013] According to the prevent invention, the user can perform
upstream transmission for transmitting the multimedia information
through the IP connection or RF channel. Moreover, the service
server receives user's multimedia information and processes the
multimedia information using a corresponding application program.
The channel management server uniquely allocates the IP connection
or RF channel to the corresponding user terminal 500 and perform
downstream transmission in the IP or RF broadcast mode that is a
typical broadcasting protocol so as to allow the user to receive
audio and video services through the user terminal 500 generally
used for receiving a broadcast and thus to make the interactive
multimedia services possible. Therefore, the user of the access
network can receive various interactive multimedia services such as
a web service, a game, a messenger, a video telephone and a virtual
environment based on a multimedia input.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of
the invention and together with the description serve to explain
the principle of the invention. In the drawings:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a network connection
and an internal configuration of a system for providing an
interactive multimedia service in an access network according to an
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0016] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the two-way data flow of
a system for providing an interactive service in an access network
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0017] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
[0018] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a network connection
and an internal configuration of a system for providing an
interactive multimedia service in an access network according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, the system for providing an interactive
multimedia service in an access network includes a service server
100, a data processing server 200, a channel management server 300,
and user terminals 500-1 to 500-n. The channel management server
300 and the user terminals 500-1 to 500-n are connected to each
other through an access network 400. The access network 400 may
include an IP network and an RF network.
[0020] The data processing server 200 includes an MPEG transmitting
unit 210 and an MPEG receiving unit 220. The MPEG transmitting unit
210 includes an MPEG encoder and MUX 211, a UDP/TCP processor 212,
and a modulator 213. The MPEG receiving unit 220 includes an MPEG
decoder and DEMUX 223, a UDP/TCP processor 222, and a demodulator
221.
[0021] Each of the user terminals 500 to 500-n is connected to the
channel management server 300 through the access network 400 and
includes an MPEG receiving unit 510, an MPEG transmitting unit 520,
and an interface unit 530.
[0022] The MPEG receiving unit 510 of the user terminal 500-1
includes an MPEG decoder and DEMUX 513, a UDP/TCP processor 512, a
demodulator 511, and an audio/video (A/V) output processor 514. The
MPEG transmitting unit 520 of the user terminal 500-1 includes an
A/V/data input processor 521, an MPEG encoder and MUX 522, a
UDP/TCP processor 524, and a modulator 523.
[0023] The A/V/data input processor 521 of the MPEG transmitting
unit 520 in the user terminal 500-1 digitalizes audio and video
information inputted from a user, creates data for console
information and user channel information, and provides the
digitalized audio and video information and the created data to the
MPEG encoder and MUX 522, where the console information includes
information about a keyboard, a pointing device, a joystick, a
remote controller, etc. and the user channel information includes
information about an IP address, a port number, a personalized RF
channel number, etc.
[0024] The MPEG encoder and MUX 522 encodes the audio and video
information, the console information, and the user channel
information inputted from the A/V/data input processor 521,
multiplexes the encoded data, and provides the multiplexed data to
the UDP/TCP processor 524 if the access network 400 is in an IP
connection state, or to the modulator 523 if the access network 400
is in an RF channel connection state.
[0025] If the access network 400 is in the IP connection state, the
UDP/TCP processor 524 converts the multiplexed upstream data
(audio/video/console/channel information) provided from the MPEG
encoder and MUX 522 into a UDP or TCP data format that is a data
transmission format for the IP network, and provides the converted
data to the interface unit 530.
[0026] On the other hand, if the access network 400 is the RF
channel connection state, the modulator 523 modulates the
multiplexed upstream data (audio/video/console/channel information)
provided from the MPEG encoder and MUX 522 and provides the
modulated data to the interface unit 530. Herein, the modulator 523
may use at least one of QAM, VSB, OFDM, and QPSK modulation
schemes.
[0027] The interface unit 530 performs upstream transmission for
the data provided from the MPEG transmitting unit 520 to the
channel management server 300 in accordance with the connection
state of the access network 400.
[0028] In addition, the interface unit 530 interfaces the
downstream multimedia data received through the access network 400
to the MPEG receiving unit 510 of the user terminal 500-1. At this
time, if the connection with the access network 400 is in the RF
connection state, the interface unit 530 provides the received
downstream data to the demodulator 511 of the MPEG receiving unit
510. On the other hand, if the connection with the access network
400 is in the IP connection state, the interface unit 530 provides
the received downstream data to the UDP/TCP processor 512 of the
MPEG receiving unit 510.
[0029] When the connection with the access network 400 is in the RF
connection state, the demodulator 511 of the MPEG receiving unit
510 in the user terminal 500-1 demodulates the downstream
multimedia data received from the interface unit 530 and provides
the demodulated data to the MPEG decoder and DEMUX 513. Herein, the
demodulator 511 may use at least one of QAM, VSB, OFDM, and QPSK
demodulation schemes.
[0030] On the other hand, when the connection with the access
network 400 is in the IP connection state, the UDP/TCP processor
512 of the MPEG receiving unit 510 converts the UDP or TCP format
of the downstream multimedia data received from the interface unit
530 and provides the converted multimedia data to the MPEG decoder
and DEMUX 513.
[0031] The MPEG decoder and DEMUX 513 demultiplexes the multimedia
data received from the demodulator 511 or the UDP/TCP processor
512, decodes the demultiplexed multimedia data, and outputs the
decoded multimedia data (audio and video data) to the A/V output
processor 514.
[0032] The A/V output processor 514 processes the audio and video
data outputted from the MPEG decoder and DEMUX 513 and outputs the
processed audio and video data to a speaker and a display device so
that the user can hear and see the output audio and video data.
[0033] The channel management server 300 in a central office allows
registered user terminals 500 only to receive a multimedia service
through IP broadcasting or RF broadcasting via the access network
400. In order to solve a problem that may arise because the IP or
RF broadcasting via the access network 400 is a point-to-multipoint
structure, the channel management server 300 controls the network
connection by determining the subscriber's access authority and
availability of the service server 100 based on the user channel
information such as an IP address, a port number, a personalized RF
channel number when the MPEG transmitting unit 520 of the
pre-determined user terminal 500-1 attempts to perform upstream
transmission to the MPEG receiving unit 220 of the data processing
server 200.
[0034] In addition, the channel management server 300 controls the
network connection by uniquely allocating the IP connection or RF
channel based on the user channel information such as an IP
address, a port number, a personalized RF channel number when the
MPEG transmitting unit 210 of the data processing server 200
attempts to perform downstream transmission for the multimedia
information to the MPEG receiving unit 510 of the user terminal
500-1, so that only the corresponding subscriber can receive the IP
or RF broadcast.
[0035] The MPEG receiving unit 220 of the data processing server
200 receives the upstream multimedia data transmitted from the MPEG
transmitting unit 520 of the user terminal 500-1 through the access
network 400.
[0036] The demodulator 221 of the MPEG receiving unit 220
demodulates the upstream data received from the channel management
server 300, that is, user multimedia data transmitted from the user
terminal 500-1, and provides the demodulated multimedia data to the
MPEG decoder and DEMUX 223. Herein, the demodulator 221 may use at
least one of QAM, VSB, OFDM, and QPSK demodulation schemes. The
upstream data transmitted from the user terminal 500-1 may include
audio information, video information, console information (for
example, about a keyboard, a pointing device, a joystick, a remote
controller, etc.), and user channel information (for example, about
an IP address, a port number, a personalized RF channel number,
etc.).
[0037] The UDP/TCP processor 222 of the MPEG receiving unit 220
converts the UDP or TCP format of the upstream user multimedia
information received through the channel management server 300 and
provides the converted multimedia data to the MPEG decoder and
DEMUX 223.
[0038] The MPEG decoder and DEMUX 223 demultiplexes the MPEG
multimedia data received through the demodulator 221 or the UDP/TCP
processor 222 in accordance with the connection state with the
access network 400, decodes the demultiplexed multimedia data, and
provides the decoded audio/video/data to the service server
100.
[0039] In the data processing server 200, the MPEG transmitting
unit 210 that transmits the multimedia information to the user
performs downstream transmission for transmitting the audio, video,
and data processed by the service server 100 to the user terminal
500-1. More specifically, the MPEG encoder and MUX 211 of the MPEG
transmitting unit 210 encodes the audio, video, and data provided
from the service server 100, multiplexes the encoded data, and
provides the multiplexed data to the UDP/TCP processor 212 if the
access network 400 is in an IP connection state, or to the
modulator 213 if the access network 400 is in an RF channel
connection state.
[0040] If the access network 400 is in the IP connection state, the
UDP/TCP processor 212 converts the multiplexed downstream
multimedia data provided from the MPEG encoder and MUX 211 into a
UDP or TCP data format that is a data transmission format for the
IP network, and transmits the converted data to the user terminal
500-1 through the channel management server 300 and the access
network 400.
[0041] On the other hand, if the access network is the RF channel
connection state, the modulator 213 modulates the multiplexed
downstream multimedia data provided from the MPEG encoder and MUX
211 and transmits the modulated data to the user terminal 500-1
through the channel management server 300 and the access network
400. Herein, the modulator 213 may use at least one of QAM, VSB,
OFDM, and QPSK modulation schemes.
[0042] The service server 100 receives the upstream multimedia data
transmitted from the user terminal 500-1, processes the multimedia
data with installed application programs, and generates multimedia
data to transmit through downstream.
[0043] More specifically, the service server 100 receives the user
audio, video, and data that were transmitted from the user terminal
500-1 via the access network 400 through the MPEG receiving unit
220 of the data processing server 200, executes various multimedia
application programs based on multimedia input data, such as web
service, game, messenger, video telephony, and virtual reality
programs, and transmits the output audio, video, and data to the
MPEG transmitting unit 210. Then the MPEG transmitting unit 210
processes the multimedia data with the aforementioned method and
transmits the processed multimedia data to the corresponding user
terminal 500-1 through the access network 400.
[0044] The operations of a system for providing an interactive
service in an access network according to an embodiment of the
present invention will now be described with reference to FIG.
2.
[0045] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the two-way data flow of
a system for providing an interactive service in an access network
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0046] As shown in FIG. 2, a channel management server 300 informs
all user terminals 500 to 500-n that are connected to an access
network using the predetermined IP addresses, port numbers, and RF
channel numbers of the existence and service kinds of a service
server in an IP connection or RF channel mode to the access network
400 at steps S101.
[0047] All the user terminals 500 to 500-n connected to the access
network 400 receives the information of the existence and service
kinds of the service server 100 in the IP connection or RF channel
mode at step S102.
[0048] The user terminal 500-1 recognizes the existence and service
kinds of the service server 100 through audio and video output from
the MPEG receiving unit 510, such as in form of an electronic
program guide, at step S103.
[0049] When the subscriber connected to the access network 400
selects a service by the user terminal 500-1 and inputs user audio,
video, and data such as console information and user channel
information at step S104, an MPEG transmitting unit 520 of the
corresponding user terminal 500-1 performs upstream transmission
for the user multimedia information to the channel management
server 300 through the access network 400 in the IP connection or
RF channel mode at step S105.
[0050] Thus, the channel management server 300 receives the user
multimedia information in the IP connection or RF channel mode,
determines the subscriber's access authority and availability of
the service server 100 based on the user channel information such
as an IP address, a port number, a personalized RF channel number,
and control the network connection at step S106.
[0051] The multimedia information of the user whose network
connection has been accepted is provided to the service server 100
through the MPEG receiving unit 220 of a data processing server 200
at step S107.
[0052] The service server 100 executes a corresponding multimedia
application program such as web service, game, messenger, video
telephony, and virtual reality programs based on multimedia data
inputted from the MPEG receiving unit 220 of the data processing
server 200 and provides the output audio, video, and data to the
MPEG transmitting unit 210 of the data processing server 200 at
step S108.
[0053] The MPEG transmitting unit 210 of the data processing server
200 processes the multimedia data provided from the service server
100 and transmits the processed multimedia data to the
corresponding user terminal 500-1 through the channel management
server 300 at step S109. The channel management server 300 controls
the network connection by uniquely allocating the IP connection or
RF channel based on the user channel information such as an IP
address, a port number, a personalized RF channel number when
performing downstream transmission for the multimedia data to the
MPEG receiving unit 510 of the user terminal 500-1 so that only the
corresponding subscriber can receive the IP or RF broadcast.
[0054] The channel management server 300 performs downstream
transmission for transmitting the multimedia information in the IP
connection or RF channel mode or transmits the multimedia
information to a backbone network configured with the Internet if
necessary at step S110.
[0055] When the user wants to terminate the interactive multimedia
service, the channel manage server 300 properly controls the
network connection based on the user multimedia input
information.
[0056] As described above, in an embodiment of the prevent
invention, the data processing server 200 and the user terminal
500-1 each have the MPEG transmitting units 210 and 520 and the
MPEG receiving units 220 and 510 so that the user can receive
interactive multimedia services in the access network, and the
service server 100 and the channel management server 300 are
included so that the user can perform upstream transmission for
transmitting the multimedia information through the IP connection
or RF channel. Moreover, the channel management server 300 uniquely
allocates the IP connection or RF channel to the corresponding user
terminal 500-1 and perform downstream transmission in the IP or RF
broadcast mode that is a typical broadcasting protocol so as to
allow the user to receive audio and video services through the user
terminal 500-1 generally used for receiving a broadcast and thus to
make the interactive multimedia services possible.
[0057] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made in the present invention.
Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the
modifications and variations of this invention provided they come
within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
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